(TibetanReview.net, Oct31, 2016) – India’s two largest political parties, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the political party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the largest political party, and the Indian National Congress that controls the upper house of the Parliament, have both issued almost similar statements, defending the Dalai Lama’s upcoming, Mar 2017 visit to Arunachal Pradesh and heaping scorn on China for threatening to punish India for this visit, reported en.yibada.com Oct 29.

“As far as whoever wants to visit any part of India, they can do so and these kinds of comments are uncalled for and they do not help in bilateral relations in any way,” BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli was quoted as saying, referring to China’s warnings against the visit.

Likewise, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala was quoted as saying, “China can have its own opinion. We all believe that the Dalai Lama is a guest in India and that the Dalai Lama can travel freely, independently to any portion that is within the territorial jurisdiction of India. Arunachal is an integral part of India.”

“No other country, no other individual, definitely not China, has the right to question the complete integrity and union of the state of Arunachal Pradesh with the union of India,” he has added.

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang had, on Oct 28, said, “India is very clear about the severity of the Dalai Lama issue and the sensitivity of the China-India border issue.”

“Under this circumstance, the Indian side invited the 14th Dalai Lama to visit the disputed territorial area of China and India, which could only severely damage the peace and stability in the border area of China and India and China-India relationship.”